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First Baptist Church rezoning approved to permit standalone parking lot; council cites safety and downtown impacts
Summary
Council rezoned nine parcels for First Baptist Church to a Planned Institutional District (PND) with the City Core Overlay to allow standalone parking; staff and the church said the project would reduce on‑street parking and improve emergency access downtown.
The Murfreesboro City Council on Feb. 6 approved a rezoning request from First Baptist Church to combine nine parcels near the intersection of South Burberry Avenue and East Castle Street into a Planned Institutional District (PND) with the City Core Overlay to permit a stand‑alone parking lot and related site improvements.
The church and its agent told council the parcels — which include existing homes owned by the church — would be demolished to create parking to relieve on‑street parking congestion near the downtown campus and improve emergency access.
Why it matters: staff said a standalone parking lot would not be permitted under the base zoning without rezoning to a planned institutional district. The church and staff argued the parking will reduce on‑street hazards where sidewalks are limited and narrow streets impede vehicle flow.
Pastor McCarroll of First Baptist described the safety and circulation problems the…
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